A Northport man is facing menacing and weapons charges after he pointed a loaded rifle at police officers Thursday while holding a butcher knife in his other hand, officials said.

Northport police Thursday responded to a dispute between two tenants inside an apartment complex on Fort Salonga Road, authorities said.

The first police officer to arrive shortly before midnight spoke to the complainant, who was bleeding from the mouth, Northport police said. The victim said Logan Arens, 22, who lives in the basement apartment, had punched him, officials said.

As two Northport Police officers went to the basement to find Arens, they were confronted by the suspect, standing at the bottom of the stairs with a rifle in his left hand and a butcher knife in his right hand, authorities said.

Arens pointed the rifle up the stairs at the lead officer who drew his service weapon and ordered the suspect to drop the rifle, which later was found to be loaded with one round in the chamber and eight in the magazine, authorities said. Arens hesitated momentarily but did put it down, police said. The officer then ordered Arens to put down the knife. The suspect finally complied after four demands, authorities said.

“This is a situation that very well may have ended much differently," said Northport Police Chief Bill Ricca. "The officer used an extraordinary amount of restraint and brought it to a conclusion without a tragic outcome.”

Arens was arraigned in Northport Village Justice Court Friday and charged with menacing a police officer, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree harassment. He was released on $5,000 bail and is due back in court April 22.